Receiving apparatus for attachment to house doors, walls, or other parts of buildings



S. HOLE RECEIVING APPARATUS FOR ATTACHMENT TO HOUSE DOORS, WALLSl 0R OTHER PARTS 0F BUILDINGS Filed Dec. 30. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 se t. 27 1 1,643,639

p. 927' s. HOLE RECEIVING APPARATUS FOR ATTACHMENT To HOUSE DooRs, WALLS, on OTHER PARTS oF BUILDINGS Filed Deo. 30, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 if E I A 36- Patented Sept. 27, 1,927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY HOLE, OF ALBOURNE, HASSOCKS, ENGLAND.

RECEIVING APPARATUS FOR ATTACHlVIENT TO HOUSE DOORS, WALLS, OR OTHER PARTS OE BUILDINGS.

Application area December 3o, 192.6, serien' No. 158,058, and ine-fear Britaiaianumy 7, 192e.

This invention relates to receiving apparatus for attachment` to housedoors, Walls or other parts of buildings, for receiving parcels, postal packages and other articles of all kinds, particularly such ashave towbe delivered b y messengers at houses, and the kind of parcel-receiving apparatus to which the invention relates is that comprising a container, having an opening in one'side, that is guided to move in proximity to an aperture in the Wall, for example a door, through which a parcel is to be received,'and a closure member for the aperture which can be actuated from outside the'doorY and serves to control movement of the container in relation to the aperture. Such a containermay be divided into tivo or more compartments having each a lateral opening for receiving` goods through' the aperture.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved construction of parcel-receiving apparatus of the kind described Which shall be simple ,to construct and reliable in operation, and can be readily. applied to existing doors, for the receptionA of the above-mentioned articles, hereinafter referred .to generally as parcels.

According to a primary feature of the invention there is provided parcel-receiving apparatus of the kind described wherein the container has a single compartment, characterized in that the container, urged by gravity or a spring to move in one direction, is normally held against movement in said direction by the closed closure member or a part operatively connected (e. movable) therewith, which closure member when opened permits the container to move independently of it in said direction on to or against a support b y Which it is retained in a position ready for 4the reception of a parcel through the aperture.

Accordingyto another feature of the invention the closure member (e. g. a hinged flap) carries a locking, device (e. g. a springcontrolled latch) so arranged as to tendto lool; the closure member in its closed 'position when it has been closed, but normally serves to support the container and is held by the latter in an unlocking position that permits the closure member to be opened.

Accordingv to a furtherfeature of the invention the container comprises a plurality of compartments having each an opening at the saine side of the container, and a plu- -rality of holding members (for example ay plurality of detente, one for each compartment) movably mounted on the container are provided for co-acting successively with the closure member or the locking device on kthe latter, and thereby retaining the container successively inV different positions, in

each of which positions one compartment has its opening opposite said aperture. This construction ,provides for several parcels being left by several messengers in succession without having to clear the container after each delivery.

"According to yet another feature of the kinventionsaid holding means (e. g. det'ents) move eachinto operative position in relation to the closure member, or a part (e. g. a latch) carried thereby, when the opening of the respective compartment moves into'register with the said aperture.

According to still. another feature of the invention, locking means is provided for automatically locking the closure member of the aperture in all positions vof the container to receive a parcel through the aperture.

Other features of the invention relate to means for guiding the container, ratchet' mechanism for preventing the container from being moved by an unauthorized person inV adirection opposite to that in which it moves when loaded, means for returning thecontainer into its starting position, and shock-absorbingmeans for breaking the fall of thecontainer as it descends from a higher position to a lower.

Further features ofthe invention will be described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

AOne .embodiment of the invention is diagrammatically illustrated" by Way of eX- ample in the accompanying drawing, wherein-- n Figure l isa perspective view of a house door having applied thereto one construction of parcel-receiving apparatus according to ther invention comprising a container movable vertically on the inner face of the door;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the container vand door, partly broken away, as seen from the back of the door;

Figure 3 isa horizontal section taken on the bent line 3-3 in Figure 2,

Figure 4 .'s a'detail vertical sectional view, enlarged, taken oath@ lille in Figure except one wherein the container is intended l Figure 5 is a view corresponding to Fig"- ure 4 but showing the same mechanism inl another position;

Figure 6 is a de tailside `elevation showing one form olfA'shocl-absorbing device for the container, and

Figure 7 is a detail side elevation of mechanism for preventing' the containerV from being lifted by an unauthorized pers`on Lilie`r reference :numerals designate like parts throughout the severaly view/si I i lefer'rin'g first to Figure .1, a Wall, 3Q, which isf shown. as; a idool; rsuchyas thehouteij door o'', a dwellingm house, has near; the tldle'4 0f it.. an eirtvlral fef Permitting articles, such l as parcels, bottlesof. milk and thelile to bepassed through it intoga con; tafner l0 mounted lbehind the door. A metal frame .32, for example of cast ironie secured in the aperture and a4 Vclosure-mem: ber 33. inthe. forni of a Hap is hingedvzto the F bottom oft-he traine' seas. to'. feld up, and

close the aperture oifto olddownnnd `rest horizontally to constitute a shelf level thebottom of the' ape rture outsidet-he floor.

As shoivnlin Figure@ the vertical reo. tangular container lOli'a's'a bottom 1 1, top l2, back Wall 1 3 in theform oi:`a l iinged door, and side Walls 14 l5,.bu t no froiit,\vall; It is dividechby partition Walls y1G, 18 into .i`our compartments eachfopen at the front, namely two long-j horizontal compart-- ments 19. .20, extending ea-ch, from yslide to side-.of the container, a verticalmcompartmentQl extending dovvn lfrom the partition 1 7 through the bottom l1 ofv the v cmtaine r into'aboX-lil'e .pocket 2 2 below thebottQni ll at one sideofthe container, and'ashortm j horizontal compartment ezetendingi be-Vv tweenV the vertical compartmentl. and the side wvall 14 ofthe container. ,The back Wall may be `divided .up intovseve'ral doorslone for each compartment, for thel. purp ose of conveniently removing parcels from the Sinne.,

Tivoiver'tioal guides 35, 36, are on the inner face of thedoorBO, oneatach side of the r aperture 3 1,.for so guiding the container l0 ve'rticaily,in1 front of the inside face of the' door that the openingsofz the several horizontal: compartments -be broughtin turn into register wviththe said aperture .which isv preferablyequal'to or slightly larger than the; openingfof the: top eemreltmeilt These avides met' be Carried by or `integral with the ia1ne-325ir'- desired. AS llufraiefilthseguides 3.5, .36am @heef nels of Uishape in lio`iizon t'a l section, with the' open ends .of the Ll directedgtoivaids one another. Twvof ribs ,.inf the form .ofc miel members 37,538, eaicl i` ofU-shape erosssgection', are .fixed vert'c'alb`7` oneA to each. side of.

leifteiiding b'etv'een'" tivo 'recesses shown at 5 3 the container 10 and are Yarranged to vrun in said guides 35, 36 With thel ybottom. vvebs oi the U-meiiibers 37, 38 lying on the bottoms of the channels 35, 36 so as to make surface Ycontact `therewith. l

The container l0 is free to fall under gravity' betvve'env the guides 35,` 36,-" a sudden descent being prevented by the friction of saidyribs in the guides, and by shockabsoi'bers if desired. Tliisfricftion can be controlled loy a regulating vdevice iOfcomp risiiig awtubular hired on the guide. 35, plunger 42 in the casing arranged to' pression vthe rib ,8'4"a cap te? Iscrewed iu theouter' `end ofcthec'asin'g and aspring {4- compresseld'betiveenthe cap and vthe plunger. In., order ,tof arrest, the, .container in the several positionsovlflreinthe horizontal Com- Plrlflits .19', 2Q5 23211?a .iD-register vitllthe aperture 3 l,escapenient mechanism, which may also .con'iprise a shock-absorbing device. is provided. This mechanism, as illustrated, comprises tivo .latches .50, 5l mounted verticallyv on theflap 3 3 nearits upp eife dge,- one at each' end tliere'of. Theunderface of the top part of the frame'SQ constitutes a keeper plate 52Y the latches and extends inwards toyards the `conteiner 1Q to provide a ledge These latches are spring-pressed upwards and can extend sol far .as to enter therecessfes' 53 aiidbear against the top member 52 of the frame, as shown in chain lines in Figure 5.A .Three holding members 54,55, 56 are .hinged `to thefedge of the top )vail Vlf2 and. partitions 16j and 17, respectively, .adjau centv the door 10Q .These holding members4 are in the form oflong sheet metal plates extendingfroinside toside of the container., hinged thereto at Vtheir upper ed an d havine at. their', lever. @il 5.8' arrangcldto enter sai'drecesses 53 and bear' ont-lietop of the latches 50 5l. These holding members 54,55', 56 With their lugs co ls titutedetents and are lvspringipres sedv to`v iv` th'edoorBOisoas to bear yin turn on sa pledge 522;.md supportthe,container 10 in operative positions, as describedrliereinafter.

The receiving apparatus operates as fol lonf's'zlt vill be assumed that the. container l empty andin a firs t or upper .operative position as shovvnuin Figure?. Yhen .tte lapopened a messenger who desires toleave a' parcel, such a bottleof milkv the container will. fall' a very schort distance until fgissllieofelby thedfeet resfieeon the ledge 52. v After the bottle has'. been placed in' the compartment 2l, A t he messenger will close theiflap 3 5., In sc doing thelatchesO, lvill 'Sme belen-d1' fl1- 2iaL member-.52 Of theframe 32,asindicatedin chain lines-in 5, thereby temporarily preventngthe iap f ronrbemg opened, and yvillalsoypush tiredeteit 5,6 meinstits.sprueventrel Oli-'f theledge 52, Hev'ng'- lost itssupport the M geseach tivo lugs 57,

outside the door 30. In this second position' the container is rst arrested by the lugs 57, 58 bearing on the latches 50, 51 and press- I ing them down so far as to release the Hap,

as shown in Figure 4. rWhen a second-messenger arrives he can open the flap 33 and place a parcel in the compartment 20. Duringsuch opening of the `flap the container is again held by the detent 55 resting on the ledge 52, and on closing the flap 33 the latches 50, 51 will force the detent 55 olf its supporting ledge into the posit-ionshown in chain lines in Figure 5, so that the container will again fall, whereupon the escapement mechanism can be operated again t as described above. The upper compartment 19 can then be used in like manner. When the container 10 falls a third time or the last time of a series of such movements `the flap 33 will be latched again and cannot be opened until the container has been lifted, which must be done by a person at the inner side of the door.` The last of these downward movements when the top compartment contains a parcel may be not such as to place the opening of the top compartment out of reg? ister with the aperture 81 but only such as to place it in a position of rest wherein it is not supported by the latches 50,51k which consequently lock the flap 33 in its closed position. The latches thusfserve not only as locking members for the iiap, but also as shock-absorbers for breaking the fall of the container during part of its descent. Y

It will be understood from the above that the flap 33 is locked in all positions of the.

container 10 except that wherein an opening of an empty compartment is in register with the aperture 31; l y

Springs or other cushioning means, such as a dash-pot, may be provided for receiving the container in its lowest position to preventundue shock, as illustrated at 60 in Figure 1. Also, any convenient form of shockabsorbing device may be provided for arrest-- ing the container in each of its upper operative positions. AOne form of such shockabsorbers is illustrated in Figure 6, whicli shows a bell-crank lever having a horizontal arm 61 and a vertical arm 62 fulcrumed at 63 on the side of the container. The outer end portion 64C of the arm 61 is knuckle jointed so as to swing freely upwards, and a tensionspring 65 tends to holdthe arm 62 in nearly vertical position. Stops 66 are so fixed on the side of the container that when the latter descends a stop will co-act with the part 64 of the arm 61, thereby rocking kthe lever against the action of vspring 65 and leavingv the'leverwhen the container is just at its next operative position. rWhen, the 'container is lifted and moved in the opposite direction the stops 66 can freely pass the lever without rockingrit. In'forder to preventthe ycontainer from, being lifted by a vperson outside the door, a rack 70 .having ratchet teeth is provided on the door, for example on the guide 35, and a pawl 71, which maybe spring-controlled, ispivoted ony the ysidewall 14 of the container and arrangedl to engage the rack so as to prevent such lifting.

As illustrated in Figure v7 the pawl 71 has a handle72 so arranged that 'when it is desired to lift the containertocommence a new cycle of operations, on gripping the handle the pawl is released from the rack and the container can be lifted readily to its-ugper position. 1

4 If desired, a spring maybe combined with the flap 3 3 and so arranged as to close it automatically after it has been opened, for inserting a parcel intoa compartment, and released, to ensure that the Hap shall be returned to its fully closed position after each insertion of aV parcel..A ,y

Provisionmay be made for ringinga bell or otherwise giving an alarm when the oontainer has descended to `its lowest or an intermediate position, so that it may be emptied and reset for receiving lfurther parcels. The press button for such a bell 'can be operated byrthe weight of the container.

Any convenient arrangement ofcompartments., may be used. Also the container instead of beingv "divided into compartments may haveronly one opening for regis-` tering with the aperture. The operation will -then be similar to thatdescribed above excepty that .no escapement will be required, but only a singlelatch, as the con tainer will have to bereset- .by handafter it has receive-d a parcel. In this case, when the fiat 'is opened the container ,will descend into its parcel-receiving position in' which it permits the flap lto be automaticallylocked when itis closed again after the delivery of the parcel. e

Various modifications may be made in the details of construction described above. For example, the container may be arranged to slideV horizontally under the action of a spring or weight across the aperture. Also, in some cases a single verticalguide may be provided at only .one side of the container, and more than one rack with an associated pawl may be provided.r Further it is to be understood that the invention is applicable not only to doors as ordinarily understood, but also to walls or other parts of buildings having an aperture therein, and the term door used herein is intended to cover such e Wall 0r par@ @t a buildin?.

.I Gleim;

Cil

l. Parcel-receiving' apparatus comprising the combination Withl'a1 Wall'havingfan aperture. therein, and a'closure member tor 'the aperture operable vfromv one side'otl the wall, ot a container havingk af llateraly opening guided to move in proximityvto'said aperture at'the other side 'of the Wall, asupport for holding the container ina position rea-dy tor the reception of a parcel through the aperture, which container is constrained',tomove in one' direction past said aperture towards said support, and supporting means mounted on said closure member, which supporting means' normally serves in the closed vposition ot said closure member t`o holdv the coiitainer against movement in said direction, but whentheclosure member is opened permits the container to mfove independently of the latter in said direction against said support.

2. Parcel-,receiving apparatus ,comprising the combination'vvith a Wall having an aperture therein, andr aV closure membertor the aperture operable from yone side of the Wall, of av container havin'g a lateral opening guided tof` move in proximity to said aperture'at the other side ofthe ivall, arsupport for holding the container in a position ready for the reception of a parcel through the apertu're,iyvhich container is constrained to move in one direction past said aperture toy Wardssaid support, and a' locking device that tends to lock the closure member in its Closed position When it has been closed, butnormally serves to hold' the! container-'against movement in said direction and is thereby held by the container in an unlocking positionr that permits the' closure 'member to vbe opened and allow the containerv to move against said support. K y y y 3. Parcel-receiving apparatus comprising the combination With a Wall havingan aperture therein,V a closure inembertor the aperture operable .from one side'iot the Wall, of a container having a lateral opening guided to move proximity tofsaid aperture at the other side ot the vva'll, a support for hcldingthe container ina position ready tor the reception of a' parcel through `the1A aper-y ture,,Whichcontainer is constrained to move inone direction past said aperture toyvards said support, and a spring-controlled"latch thatfptends to lock the closure member in its Closed posit-ibn, when' it hee beehlelesda but normally servesftoholdthe container against movement iii-,said direction andV is" thereby held by Ythe contair'ier` in an unlocking posi-V tion lthat permits" thecloisure member to be opened' and allowvvthe container to move adapt i." .A

4f, Pmrce'lfreceiving apparatus conip-rising theccmbination with af Wall having an aper tli'ereimand a closure memberltor the aperture operable tromone side of the-'Walhot a container comprising a plurali'tyho'tconipartments having each an opening at the same side ot tlie'container, a support for the container, which container is constrained to move in one direction at the other side ot said Wall so as to bring` the openings of the compartments in succession'oppo'site to said aperture', and escapement mechanism com! prising` af locking device carried bythe clovsure member, and a plurality ot detents, one tor each compartment, that are movably. mounted onV the container, and are controlled by said locking device, and are adapted to co-act successively with said supportland thereby retain the container against movement in said direction successively in dit'-` terent positions, in each of which positions one ot saidv compartments has its opening opposite said aperture, which locking de vice is adapted Aautomatically to lock tlre closure member closed in all positions ot the container except those ivherein the container isl intended to receive a parcel through the aperture. y A Y l Parcel-receiving apparatus' comprising the combination with a Wall havingfan aperture therein, and a olosuremember tor the aperture operable from one side et the Wall, ot a containerl comprising a plurality ot compartments having each an Aopening at the same side ot the container, a-support for the container', Which container is constrained to move in Yone direction the other sident said vall solas to bring' the openings ot t-he compartments in succession opposite to said aperture,V and escapement mechanism coinprising a spring-,controlled locking device constituting a'shocli-absorber carried by the closure member, and plurality ot detents, one tor each compartment, that are movably mounted on'tlecontainer', andare controlled by said loc'lii g device,v and are adapted 'to cor-act successively with said support and thereby retain the container against movement in said direction successively in dit'- terent positions, in each ot which positions oneV of said compartments has its opening opposite said aperture', which locking device is movedinto an unlocking positio'nby a detent supported thereby. y

6. Parcel-receiving apparatus comprising the combination with a ivall'having an aperture therein, and a closure member for the apertureroperable from onel side of the Wall, ot a container havinga lateral opening movable vertically in proximity" to said aperture at the other side ot the Wall, a'supporttcr holding vthe container in a position ready tor thefreception ot a parcel through the aperture, Whichfcontainer is constrained to move in one direction past said aperture towards said support, and said closure member in its closed position normally holds the container against movement in said direction butwhen opened permits the same to .moveindepend ently otit in said direction vagainst said support, tivo guides of'U' Section, ivhereotone is:

llt)

' the combination with a Wall having an aperture therein, and a closure member for the aperture operable from onel side of the Wall, of a container comprising` a plurality Aof compartments having, each an opening at the saine side oic the container, a support for the container, Which container is constrained to move in one direction at the other side of vsaid Wall so as to bring the openings of the compartments in succession opposite to said aperture, escapeinent mechanism comprisingl a plurality of holding` members that are movably mounted on the containerare controlled by `the closure member and are adapted to coact successively `With said support and thereby retain the container against movement in said direction successively in diierent positions, in each of Which positions one of said compartments has its opening opposite said aperture, and a shock-absorbiiig device comprising a resiliently-controlled lever-arm fulcrumed on the Wall, and a plurality of stops on the container, one for each position in Which the container is to be at rest, arranged to coact With the lever-arm and have their movement in said direction checked thereby as the container moves into SIDNEY HOLE. 

